Description of the attraction
The military cemetery of Catania, one of three similar in Sicily, is located 7 km southwest of the city of Catania. The other two are in Syracuse and Ajira. You can get here by taking the main road from Catania airport towards Palermo.
After the successful completion of the North African campaign in mid-May, on July 10, 1943, 160 thousand soldiers of the united allied forces invaded Sicily to liberate the island and later all of Italy from the fascist regime. The Italians, who were preparing to conclude a truce with the Allies and enter the war on their side, offered "ostentatious" resistance, but the German opposition was determined and unyielding. Nevertheless, in August of the same year, the Sicilian campaign was completed when two detachments of Allied troops united in Messina.
Soldiers who died in the final days of the campaign are buried at the Catania Military Cemetery. Many were killed during a fierce battle near the city's borders (Catania was liberated on August 5). No less terrible was the battle for the bridgehead on the Simeto River. In total, the cemetery contains the remains of 2,135 Allied soldiers, 113 of which have not yet been identified. Most of the British are buried here, but you can also see the graves of 12 Canadians, in which 22 pilots who served in the British Air Force are buried, and one Polish grave.
You can visit the war memorial at any time. Access for pedestrians is always open, but problems with littering the territory and some others forced the cemetery's management to restrict access for motorists - a gate with a barrier was installed 500 meters from the entrance. There is also access for people with disabilities.
